Publisher's Synopsis
This text examines how macroeconomic conditions and adjustment processes have affected efforts to incorporate small businesses into national financial systems. Case studies cover Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay, and include policy recommendations pointing to the importance of market-based allocation tools and the growing role of nongovernmental organizations at different levels of the credit management system. Constraints are considered, such as restrictive monetary policies, inflation and high interest rates, and the informal and under-capitalized nature of a sector traditionally excluded from access to banking services.